Hernial truss.



No. 792,305. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905. F. B. ALLSHOUSB.

HERNIAL TRUSS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1904.

fmenivrx UNITED STATES Patented June 13, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS B. ALLSHOUSE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINOIS TRUSSCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

HERNIAL TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,305, dated June 13,1905.

Application filed June 14, 1904:. Serial No. 212,460.

To all whom, it may concern.-

1 Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. ALLsHousn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hernial Trusses,of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide a truss of generally improved constructionpossessing peculiar ad vantages in the matter of fitting it to the bodyof the wearer and in contributing toward the relief and cure of herniaof the abdomen.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa partlybroken perspective view of myimproved truss; Fig. 2, a similar view of details of the construction ofthe truss-frame, and Fig. 3 a rear elevation of the truss-pad of theconstruction I prefer to employ.

My improved truss is of the belt form, and the part which extends acrossthe abdomen and forms the body portion A carries downwardly -extendingarms B C. The trussframe consists of a central length or strip portion aof stiff, preferably malleable, metal, flanked by strips or lengths I) bof spring metal, from the outer ends of which extend strips or lengths cc of stiff, preferably malleable, metal having downwardly-extending endportions d in the arms B C of the truss. The spring-sections Z), as Iprefer to provide them, are flat, and the sections 0 (Z are round rods.The particular form of the frame-sections may be varied, and, ifdesired, the entire frame may be formed of an integral length ofmaterial tempered or given the desired springy quality at the parts I)and rendered pliable to a desired degree at the parts a c. In theconstruction shown the flat springs b are provided at 'opposite endswith clips 6, presenting square sockets f to receive the square endportions of the rods (6 0.

The frame is enveloped in a casing of leather or equivalent flexiblematerial sewed along opposite sides of the sections or frame members tohold them in place and has projecting flexible end portions 9 7L.Extending from the end 71 is a strap or band 2', preferably of elasticmaterial. The parts of the casing which envelop thedownwardly-projecting parts (Z of the frame and form the arms B C are atright angles to the body or belt portion A and are preferably braced, asshown, by corner-pieces it, also of leather or the like. Extending fromthe end portion of the arm C at its outer side is a strap or band Z,preferably of elastic material, having means, as the buckle m, wherebyit may be lengthened and shortened. On the free end of the band Z is asliding attachment or wire loop a, adapted to hook over a stud p on thelower end of the arm B. The strap 1' is also provided with a buckle orthe like, whereby it may be lengthened and shortened, and carries anattachment, like the wire loop n, to engage a stud g on the end portion9.

My improved truss is adapted to carry a pad at either or each springportion 5.

D D are truss-pads formed, as I prefer to provide them, with back plates9', having segmental series of sockets 7 Each pad is pivotally mountedat its center upon a flat bar 8 midway between the ends of the latter,where by it may be adjusted to diflerent angles thereon. A clamping-bart is pivotally fastened, by means of a screw 6, to the bar 8 at one endand at its opposite end is adapted to receive a clamping screw t whichpasses through openings in the adjacent end portions of the bars 2, sand into the sockets r.

The truss may be fitted with great accuracy to the body by the wearerhimself by first placing the pad over the hernial opening and thenshaping the frame to the body by bending the parts beyond the pads overhis hips. The rods a c in said parts may be readily bent by hand inshaping the frame to the body of the wearer, but will retain theirshapes against any pressure which may be exerted by the abdominalmuscles in use. The springs Z) are bent as shown, their concave facesbeing at the inner side of the belt. The pressure of the pad or pads maybe varied by bending the part a. If bowed inward,

it will tend to relax the pressure, while if bowed in the outwarddirection it will tend to increase the pressure. The belt when inposition passes around the body from a point midway between the twoabdominal rings of the inguinal canal in front across the ilium justbelow the anterior superior spinous process and parallel with the crestof the ilium to a natural position behind in the region of the fifthlumbar vertebra. The belt portion is held directly parallel with andfirmly to the abdomen at the point of the inguinal canal and is presseddownward across the ilium until the extensions or arms B C rest firmlyon the gluteal muscles. Thus the parts (Z of the frame will, underpressure during initial fitting, be bent to form curves fittingperfectly to the body. The frame, while beingshaped or molded to thebody, will retain the pad. directly parallel with and against theabdomen, thus giving a directpad-pressure against the hernial opening atall times. The strap or band Z passes directly across the glutealmuscles and prevents the truss from slipping upward in front. Itoperates to maintain the pull of the truss or direction of pad pressurein a line through the body from the inguinal canal. The compensatorypressure of the truss is equalized throughout that part of the main beltbeyond the arms B O by the arms themselves, the corner-pieces Zr, andthelower band or strap Z. The arms held against the body as describedprevent any rocking of the truss-frame with the pad or pads While inplace. It will thus be seen that the adjustment of the truss is verysimple. The pad may be moved backward and forward upon the part I) tofind its right location over the hernial opening and may he changed toany angle, either to the right or left, and the pad may be quickly andeasily reversed, if desired.

While I prefer to construct my improvements throughout as shown anddescribed, they may be variously modified in details of constructionwithout departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by theclaims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hernial truss, a belt formed with a front frame portion havingouter stiff pliable metal sections conformable to the parts of the bodyto which they are applied, and an intermediate springy section,substantially as set forth.

2. In a hernial truss, a belt formed with a front frame portion havingouter stiff pliable metal sections conformable to the parts of the bodyto which they are applied, and. provided with downwardly-extending armsat the end portions of the frame, and an intermediate springy section,substantially as described.

3. In a hernial truss, a belt formed with a front frame portion havingacentral stifl pliable metal section, springy sections at opposite endsof said central section, and outer stiff pliable metal sectionsconformable to the parts of the body to which they are applied, andprovided with downwardly-extending arms at the end portions of theframe, substantially as set forth.

4. In a hernial truss, a belt formed with a front frame portioncomprising a flat springseetion adapted to hold a truss-pad, stiffpliable sections connected with opposite end portions of said spring,and conformable to the parts of the body to which they are applied,substantially as set forth.

5. In a hernial truss, a belt formed with a front frame portion,comprising two fiat spring-sections adapted to hold truss-pads, a stiffpliable intermediate section connecting said springs, and stiff pliablesections connected with the outer end portions of said springs andconformable to the parts of the body to which they are applied,substantially as described.

6. In a hernial truss, a belt formed with a front frame portion havingouter stiff pliable metal sections conformable to the parts of the bodyto which they are applied and provided with downwardly-extending arms atthe end portion of the frame, a springy section intermediate of saidouter sections adapted to hold the truss-pad, a back belt-strapconnected with opposite ends of the upper portion of said frame. and astrap connected at opposite ends with the free ends of said arms, allconstructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

FRANCIS B. ALLSHOUSE. Witnesses:

l/VALTER N. IVINBERG, W. B. DAVIES.

